December 14, 2022

In This Issue

CalOptima Health News


CalOptima Health Board Approves Major Investments in Member Care


CalOptima Health CMO Interviewed by CBS News LA on Paxlovid


Redetermination will Begin after Public Health Emergency


CalOptima Health Virtual Community Resource Fair


COVID-19 News


Find a COVID-19 Vaccine


Orange County Moves From “LOW” to “MEDIUM” COVID-19 Community Level on CDC Metrics


Test and Treat


COVID-19 Plan


Community News


REAL ID Deadline Extended


Be Well OC Queer Healing


Fair Housing Workshop


Alzheimer’s and Dementia Informational Webinar


Bank of America Community-Based Internships

Close Up Of Woman At Home Reading Instructions On Supply Of Covid-19 Rapid Antigen Self-Testing Kits
CalOptima Health News

CalOptima Health Board Approves Major Investments in Member Care

At a historic Board of Directors meeting in December, CalOptima Health’s Board approved the funding for several major programs to benefit member care. A significant portion of the funding is directed towards incentives for providers in recognition of the pivotal role they play in supporting our members’ health. 


$50 Million to Fund Cancer Screening 


The Board allocated $50.1 million to fund a Comprehensive Community Cancer Screening and Support Program for Medi-Cal Members designed to achieve the lowest incidence rate nationwide for late-stage breast, cervical, colon and certain lung cancers. This is the single largest investment in a disease prevention program in the health plan’s history. “With rare exception, no one should die from breast, cervical or colon cancer, and many heavy smokers should not die from lung cancer,” said Richard Pitts, D.O., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer. “CalOptima Health will be creative and relentless in going after these four specific cancers that are relatively easy to detect and are treatable when found in the early stages. This is our Orange County cancer moonshot.”  


$5 Million to Fund NAMI Peer Program 


To support mental health hospital discharges and improve access to behavioral health services, the Board also funded a $5 million grant for the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) Orange County to pair trained peer mentors with CalOptima Health members. “Connecting our members with trained, experienced individuals who can offer invaluable guidance with navigating the mental health system is a major step toward making behavioral health services more accessible,” said Carmen Katsarov, LPCC, CCM, CalOptima Health Executive Director of Behavioral Health Integration. Steve Pitman, President of NAMI Orange County agreed: “Our NAMI mentors will walk alongside CalOptima Health members on their journey to recovery, offering valuable support while demonstrating through their own lived experience that recovery is possible. We look forward to this partnership making a difference in the community.” 


$153 Million to Fund a Hospital Quality Program 


CalOptima Health’s Board also appropriated up to $153.5 million for a five-year Hospital Quality Program to measure and incentivize quality hospital care for members. Reflecting the agency’s commitment to breakthrough improvement in all quality measures, the program aims to provide data-driven feedback to hospitals on their quality improvement efforts, while recognizing and rewarding those that demonstrate quality performance. It will also identify areas for improvement and for working collaboratively with hospitals to ensure members receive quality care, including increased patient safety and performance-driven processes. “I am very excited about this [program] where we have really listened to our hospital providers,” said CalOptima Health Board Director Isabel Becerra during the December meeting. Added Board Director Clayton Chau, M.D., Ph.D.: “[It] speaks to how much we value what we do and how much we care for the well-being of our members.” 

CalOptima Health CMO Interviewed by CBS News LA on Paxlovid

In an interview with CBS News Los Angeles, CalOptima Health Chief Medical Officer Richard Pitts, D.O., Ph.D., shared the benefits of using Paxlovid to treat or prevent long-term sickness caused by COVID-19. He joins other medical professionals in encouraging those who have tested positive to contact their primary care physician about taking Paxlovid. With a holiday surge of COVID-19 cases in Orange County, Dr. Pitts emphasized that getting vaccinated and boosted is key: "Long-COVID is a debilitating illness," he said. "We do not understand everything about it just yet. We also know, along that line, why it's important [to avoid] COVID and why [people should] be vaccinated, because there is a subset of people who get myocarditis, which is an inflammation of the heart."

Redetermination will Begin after Public Health Emergency (PHE)

CalOptima Health Medi-Cal members must report any changes in their household to the County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) online, by phone, email or in-person before the PHE ends. During the COVID-19 PHE, members could keep their coverage regardless of changes in their circumstances. However, when the PHE ends, SSA will begin its redetermination process and will send letters to members asking for information to determine if they are still eligible to remain on Medi-Cal. Learn more through the Department of Health Care Services website

CalOptima Health Virtual Community Resource Fair

Video Conference Work Webinar Online At Home

CalOptima Health invites you to attend a four-part virtual resource fair throughout the month of January focusing on “Resources to Support Housing in Orange County.” Each session will highlight one of the following categories: Youth, Families, Pregnant Women and Adults.


The purpose of the fair is to inform and educate health care partners, community stakeholders and CalOptima Health employees about services and programs available to better serve CalOptima Health and community members experiencing housing insecurity. Registration is required for each session. 

COVID-19 Updates
Find a COVID-19 Vaccine
Collage of portraits of an ethnically diverse and mixed age group of people showing their shoulders with band-aids on after getting a vaccine.

The Orange County Health Care Agency makes it easy for individuals to get a COVID-19 vaccine. There are several ways to find an appointment.


Vaccinations are also available for anyone who is homebound, and transportation services are available for those who need a ride to a vaccination site. If you need help scheduling a vaccination appointment, call the OC COVID-19 Hotline at 714-834-2000.

Orange County Moves From “LOW” to “MEDIUM” COVID-19 Community Level on CDC Metrics

Orange County has moved to the Medium COVID-19 Community Level, according to the latest Community Level metrics released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), per the OC Health Care Agency (HCA). The CDC determines COVID-19 Community Levels based on the number of local COVID-19 cases, COVID-19 hospital admissions, and COVID-19 hospital inpatient occupancy in the prior week. In the past week, the rise of new COVID-19 hospital admissions transitioned Orange County from low to medium COVID-19 community levels. 

Hand drawing increasing Coronavirus Covid-19 cases graph concept with black marker on transparent glass board.

Test and Treat

 ATK SARS Cov 2 coronavirus rapid antigen test nasal kit. A man doing Covid-19 Self test at home. Hand holding test on white background. Antigen rapid test kit of Covid-19 for selftest at home.

Individuals with COVID-19 symptoms can go to a Test to Treat location to get a COVID-19 test, a prescription for treatment (if eligible), and medication. To find a Test to Treat location, call 1-800-232-0233. 

COVID-19 Plan

Seasonal Flu Concept. Worried Black Mom Taking Care Of Her Ill Child At Home_ Caring Mother Touching Daughter s Forehead And Looking At Thermometer_ Checking Kid s Temperature_ Closeup Shot

The CDC recommends individuals put together a COVID-19 plan for the holiday season. Plan options are recommended for work, childcare, and other responsibilities that may cause stress if you were to become sick. Consider how others might help you or how you might help others. It’s also important to identify the supplies you might need.

Community News

REAL ID Deadline Extended

Due to circumstances resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Homeland Security has extended the REAL ID enforcement deadline. The new deadline for REAL ID enforcement is May 7, 2025 when every air traveler 18 years of age and older will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, state-issued enhanced driver’s license, or another acceptable form of ID to fly within the United States.

Be Well OC Queer Healing

diverse business people  man_ woman_ gay_ transgender_ lesbian_ asian_ caucasian_ african american_ lgbtq  with rainbow flag on hand in business office working together as teamwork selective focused

Be Well OC’s Community Suicide Prevention Initiative, Queer Healing will be a day of mindful healing for the LGBTQIA+ youth and young adult community. The event will be in person and will take place at the Delhi Center in Santa Ana on Saturday, January 14 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 

Alzheimer’s and Dementia Informational Webinar

Elderly couple embracing and smiling looking at the camera

Community members are encouraged to attend a virtual Spanish language informational webinar on Alzheimer’s and Dementia. The webinar will take place on Monday, December 19 from 5:30- 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. Click here to register.

Fair Housing Workshop

The Fair Housing Foundation will be holding a Fair Housing Workshop via Zoom from 1:30 - 3 p.m. on Thursday, January 5, 2023 for the residents of Orange. The workshop is free and open to the public. Attendees will learn about how they are protected under fair housing laws, what their rights and responsibilities as tenants and landlords are, and how to deal with tenant and landlord disputes. Click here to register.

Bank of America Community-Based Internships

Handshake of latin american male apprentice after job interview with businessman at office

The Student Leaders program at Bank of America annually selects 300 students from across the United States who are interested in making a difference through volunteer-based work. Scholars selected for the Student Leaders program will participate in an eight-week paid internship where they will work part-time with a nonprofit organization local to their area. Students interested in the leadership program can submit their applications online until January 13, 2023.

How to Contact CalOptima Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic

CalOptima Health Customer Service remains ready to respond to member needs as we adhere to guidelines to reduce the possibility of COVID-19 transmission. Our building is closed to visitors. Members can call Customer Service from the safety of their home, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We have staff who speak their language. Members can also visit www.caloptima.org and access their member portal.

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